Alessandro Baratta

He studied painting with Francesco Maria Reti and at the age of 28 he entered the Compagnia di San Giuseppe, a confraternity based near the church of Santa Croce.

A few years later, attention was paid to the trompe-l'œil decoration of the church of Santa Cristina, which the Florentine Filippo Maria Galletti was frescoing with episodes from the life of San Gaetano da Thiene, founder of the Theatines who ran the church.

The lack of funds had prevented the construction of the dome and the apse; the Baratta painted a large canvas that simulated, in a wide perspective, a dome, creating a scenic effect that was much appreciated; the shadings were arranged so that those who entered the church could be made to believe that they were true.

His last documented works are the decoration of the chapel built in Santa Maria del Quartiere behind the high altar (1694) and for the church of the Certosa di San Girolamo (1699).

He also worked in Naples, where he made a burin engraving representing the southern slope of the Camaldoli hill.